Tractor mounted corn picker and husker



Oct. 2l, 1941. B. M. HYMAN TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN PICKER AND HUSKER h 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 193.7

oct, i21, 1941. l B. M. HYMAN 2,259,892

TRACTOR MOUNTED CQRN PICKER AND HUSKER FiledMarch 15, 195'7 '7 Sheets-Shee'cl 2 Oct. 2l, 1941.

Filed March 15,v 19:57

Eig. N

B. M. HYMAN TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN PICKER AND HUSKERV 7 sheets-Sheet s Fui w# Ima/220W Oct 215.1941. B. M. HYMAN 2,259,892

TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN PICKER AND HUSKER Filed March l5, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 4- lOi Oct 21, 1941. B. M. HYMAN TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN PICKER AND HUSKER Filed March l5, 1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 l Oct. 21, 1941. B. M. HYMAN TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN PICKER AND HUSKER Filed March l5, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 21, 1941. B. M. HYMAN TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN P ICKER AND HUSKER Filed March 15, 195'( 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Bgm Patentes ocr. 21, v1941 TRACTOR M Price HUSKEE Benjamin M. nymsanoune, m., or te,

International Harvester Company. a corporation ofNew Jersey Application March 15, 1937, sena! No. 13ans (ci. sis-1s) 3 Claims.

'This invention relates to a tractor mounted corn picker and husker.

Such picker and husker machines have'heretofore been provided as an attachment for mounting on so-called general purpose tractors',

but, so far as is known, considerable manual labor and eilort were involved in mounting the machine on the tractor and in removing it therefrom. 'Ihis was so because of the great weight` and bulkiness o1' the picker and husker structure.v It is desirable that the picker and husker be capable of ready and quick association with the tractor and removal therefrom, and also that the completely assembled tractor outfit be easy to handle with the parts thereof in such relative locations as to bring about the best possible weight distribution and balance, and make for efcient control and operation thereof.

The tractor `with which the improved corn picker attachment is to be used is of that type having a longitudinal, central, narrow bodyrportion supported at its front end on a single wheel support, while/ the rear end of the body includes a transverse rear axle housing supported on two widely spaced, large diameter, traction' wheels. I'he tractor is thus of the three wheel type, making it possible to locate com picker structure ahead'of the rear axle alongside the body and between the body and the line of travel of the adjacent rear traction wheel. If only one row of corn is to be harvested, then only one gather- Ving unit is carried by the tractor at the side thereof, whereas, if two rows are to be harvested, then a gathering unit would be carried at each side of the tractor, In the present disclosure, a one row machine will be shown and described, since the two row machine would only be in the nature of a duplication.

'I'he main object of the invention is to provide an improved tractor mounted and drivenl corn picker and husker.

Another object is to provide such structure in the form of separate picker and husker units adapted separately to be attached to thetractor Another object .of the invention is to provide' means whereby quick attachment and detachment of said units with respect to the tractor will be possible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved support in the nature of an Outrigger from the body of the tractor in advance i t'liie rear axle for adjustably carrying the picker Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplined mechanism for power driving all operative .parts of the picker and husker from the power take-od shaftl of the tractor,

Another object is to provide an improved support for the husked ear discharge elevator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved discharge .elevator associated with the husker unit atthe rear of the tractor in such a manner as to adapt it for dischargefof the husked ears longitudinally rearwardly, or laterally and transversely outwardly at right angles to the line of draft.

Still another object is to provide in association with the rear mounted husker unit an improved rearwardly extending wagonl hitch for pulling a wagon behind the tractor outt, said wagon to receive the discharged ears from the husker discharge elevator.

Other important objects will become apparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, these desirable objects are accoms plished in a corn picker and husker attachment adapted to be completely carried on a tractor of the three wheel general purpose type heretofore mentioned, and in which the tractor body rigidly carried a transversely extending support located forwardly of the rear axle housing of the tractor. If the harvester is to handle only one row of corn, then such support will be arranged at one sideof the tractor only, and, if the harvester is to be of the two row type, then there would be such a support at each side of the tractor.y

The picking or gathering mechanism is a unit by itself, which, when standing on the ground detached from the tractor, includes an elevator.

such units, which, standing by themselves apart from the tractor, are unstable, but include adjustable legs to make them stable and adjustable to different heights whereby the tractor may be driven alongside or into a leg supported unit to facilitate the attachment of these units to the tractor.

Such unit, per se, in detached relation is unstable and, therefore, includes adjustable legs or props for supporting the same on the ground in such a manner and at suche, level that it is` possible to drive the tractor alongside the unit until the unit is in position with respect to the tractor which will make it possible conveniently to attach the picker unit to the tractor. Said Another object of the invention is to provideI unit includes a simple form of clamp means which is connectable detachably to the transverse support extending from the tractor in such a manner that the entire pickerunit may pivot up or down about the axis of the transverse support on the tractor. The tractor carries a lever immediately accessible to the operator on the tractorfor adjusting the gathering or picking mechanism up or down in relation to the ground, and

the operative parts of the gathering or picking unit are connected to be driven from the usual rearwardly extending power take-off shaft at the -rear end of the tractor. Further, the picking or gathering unit includes an elevator for conveying picked ears upwardly and rearwardly alongside the tractor into a husking unit carried rigidly at the rear end of the tractor and suspended from the rear axle housing thereof.

This husking unit also is carried on adjustable legs to stand the same on the ground when detached from the tractor, said legs making it pos- Y sible to place the husking unit at such a level that the tractor can be backed into the unit for making it possible conveniently to attach the husker unit to the axle housing of the tractor, rigidly and securely, and the attaching means being of such a character that the attachment maybe quickly accomplished. The husker unit includes a hopper for receiving snapped ears from the elevator of the picker unit, the husker having operative parts which also are driven by powerderived from the power take-oil shaft of the tractor. The husker includes a hopper to receive the husked ears, and, associated with such hopper, is an elevator which may be positioned to extend longitudinally rearwardly parallel to the line ofy draft. This elevator serves to discharge the husked ears into a wagon connected to the husker unit by an improved form of hitch, said wagon receiving the husked ears from the elevator. 'I'his discharge elevator also may be swung around and be positioned along a line disposed transversely or at lright angles to the line of draft for discharging the husked ears into a wagon disposed alongside the line of draft of the tractor mounted harvester, if desired.V

The picker unitand the husker unit are so located. relatively with respect to each other and are so mounted on the tractor as to achieve the best possible balance and relationship of parts, so as not to interfere with the good running of the tractor. Further, the parts are so related to the drivers station on the tractor that he can watchthe harvester mechanism operate and also has complete and easy control of the harvester mechanism, so as to facilitate adjustments thereof.

The above structure is shown in detail in the Figure 7 is a similar view of the detached picker unit, per se; I

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the pickery support onthe tractor along with the adjusting mechanism for the picker;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a detail of the brace structure for the picker support on the tractor, taken from the side of the tractor shown in Figure 8; f

Figure' 10 is a detail plan View, partly in section, of the ear discharge elevator at the rear end of the husker with the elevator in its transverse position, said view being taken along the line lll-I0 of Figure 11, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 11 is a rear view of the discharge elevator shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view,simi1ar to Figure 10, of the discharge elevator and hopper shown in section, with the elevator arranged longitudinally tothe rear, as seen in Figure 3; f

Figure 13 is a fragmentary plan view` of the wagon hitch as Viewed from the line |3|3 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a detail view in plan, showing the attachment of supporting members to the rear axle; and,

Figure 15 is an end view, partly in section, of parts shown in Figure 9. A

Looking at Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the tractor is --of the general purpose typey having a narrow longitudinal body composed of side frame members 20, which frame or body at its front end is supported on a single steering wheel truck 2| turnable bysteering connections 22 including a steering wheel 23 disposed in the usual relation to a drivers seat 2'4 mounted on'the rear end of the body 20 of the tractor, which body includes a gear box 25, from which on opposite sides thereof extend 'hollow' rear axle housings 28 including rear axles 21 and widely spaced, large diameter driving traction wheels 28. 'Ihe tractor thus is of the three wheel type.

Rigidly connected to the rear ends of the side frame members 2 0 of the tractor body is a transverse support in the form of a hollow stationary shaft 29, which is bolted to one of the side frame members 2|! by a U-bolt 30 and which at its'opposite side is passed through a vertical plate 3|,

showing the support for`the picker on the tractor taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1, viewed from the stubble- 4 ward side of the tractor;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the assembled structure;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the assembled structure;

vFigure 6 is a general perspective view of the` husker unit, per se, showing the front of the unit by which it is adapted to be connected to the tractor;

to which said shaft 29 is rigidly secured, as by welding. The shaft 29 constitutes an Outrigger support for the picker unit. 'I'he plate 3|' in turn ,carries a U-bolt32, as shown in Figure 2, which embraces the adjacent side frame member 2li for securingV the shaft 29 to said adjacent side frame member 2li. The upper edge of thevertical plate 3| is provided with an arcuate rack or quadrant 33 and, pivotally associated with said plate 3| in any desired manner is an upstanding lever 34 positioned accessible to the operator on his seat 24. Associated with the lever is the usual detent mechanism 35 ior locking the lever to the teeth of y the rack 33 to hold the same in any desired position of adjustment, said lever 34 at its lower end including an extension 36 that swings with the' lever, and in its lower-most position in a forward .direction restsl on the adjacent side frame 20 of -the tractor body, thus limiting the movement of the lever in a forward direction inal manner that will be. perfectly obvious. Connected to the front end of the extension 36 is a link 31 for a purpose n later to be made known.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the axle housings 26 each include an inner integral flange or pad portion 38 and an outer ilange 38', which porin this art. Associated with each gathering board 55 is an endless gathering chain 59 to assist in vbringing the stalks intoproper position in relaeach side of each flange 99. Each set of plates 99 provides a vertical edge between which at the` upper and lower corners is arranged an eye bolt 4I sewing as a coupling means for attaching parts later to be described, to the tractor. For example, as shown in Figures 8' and 9, the laterally extending support 29 includes a bracket 42 toY 'brace 44. 'Ihe brace arms 44 and 43 are angularly related and their rear ends are connectedto a vertical plate 45 forming a triangle, which latter plate or bar 45 includes a vertical flange portion 48 formed with a right angularly bent claw portion 41 at its upper end and a key-hole slot 49 at its other end. It can now be seen that this triangle brace structure shown in Figure 8 is coupled to the vertical front edge of two adjacent coupler plates .39 secured to a flange portion 95 on the rear axle housing Z8 with the claw portion 41 hooked over the upper front edge of the pair of plates 39, with the upper eye .bolt 4| tting vinto the claw in a manner permitting the upper end of the flange 46 to be secured to the eye bolt by means of a nut, as shown. The lower portion of the ilange 45 is so disposed that the lower eye bolt 4i cooperates with the key-hole slot 45 to secure the lower portion oi', the member 45 to said -coupler plates 99; It will thus be seen that the outrigger support 29 constitutes a support unit.

which can be quickly coupled to the rear axle.

housing o! the tractor by the vquick attachable coupler means just described and by the U-bolt coupler means heretofore described and shown in .Figure 2 ior detachably coupling the opposite endv of the support 29 to the side frame members of the tractor body. v

The picker or gathering unit will next be described, the same being shown best .in Figures 1,

3 and 7. This unit. per se, as shown in Figures 1 and 9, involves an upwardly and rearwardly inclined frame composed of two spaced angle bars 49, each cross-connected by a bracket structure 50, which includes a wide bearing bracket on -its under side including a hinged clamp 52, so

tion to the picking rolers 54. The rollers 54 and the chains 59, oi course, mustbe driven, and such A a drive will presently be explained. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the housing 59 at one side `oi the upper end-of ythe rollers 54 is an upwardly and rearwardly extending elevator housing 59 enclosing an endless elevator conveyor 1 60 for conveying ears snapped by the rollers 54 curely to upwardly and rearwardly to be delivered into a husking unit subsequently to be described.

This picker unit, as yshown in Figure 7, at its front end rests on the ground and at its rear end at the point 5I is attached to the tractor support 29 to make the same stable when the unit is in operative position when attached to the tractor. When it is detached from the tractor, as shown in Figure "I, said unit at its rear end is unstable because of the overhanging weight of the elevator 59, and for that reason two leg supports Bl are provided and adjustably connected to oppositel sides of the housing 59 by clamps B2. Obviously these two leg supports 9| may be raised or lowered relative to the housing 59 to support .the rear end of this picker unit at the proper elevation. When the unit is. supported, as shown' in Figure 7, the tractor can be driven alongside the unit in such a manner as to position the bearing 5i at the proper lelevation withrespect to the Outrigger support 29, s'o that the :clamps 52 may be conveniently secured around the support 29 to secure the picker unit to the tractor. So that the unit will be properly braced and stabilized, an auxiliary A`brace or stabilizer 99 is connected ,between a forward point 92' of the gathering frame and the opposite end of the support 29, as s hown in Figures 1 and 2, with a fastening means 94 being provided to secure the said brace 59 sen the opposite outer end of said support As shown in Figures l, 3 and 6, the tractor has a rearwardly extending power take-oir shaft 95,

, the rear end of which carries a sprocket wheelsprocket wheel 69 on a shaft B9, which is coupled that said bearing portion 5i may be positioned to embrace the Outrigger pipe 29 and then, by means of the quickly attachable and detachable clamps 52, be securely bolted `in place to said outrigger pipe 29 in a manner permitting the frame 49 to have rocking or pivotal movement about said Outrigger support 29. The'frame 49 of the picker unit, as shown in Figures l and 7,'carries a, housing 53 for enclosing theupper ends oi the usual pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined snapping rollers 54. The frame also carries the usual shields or gathering boards disposed on opposite sides of the rollers 54 to provide a gathering throat for the passage of the standing corn stalks as the machine passes along a row of corn stalks in a well known manner to enable the snapping rollers 54 to pinch or snap the ears from the standingstalks. These gathering boards 55 include the usual outer gathering point 56 and the inner gathering shield lfwhich is disposed in advance of the wheel 2i of the tractor to deect stalksinto the throat provided between the gathering boards 55 to enable the rollers 54 eiectively to engage the stalks all in a manner well known sing 53 not necessary to describe.

by means of a universal joint 19 to a forwardly extending drive shaft 1i, which at its frontendk drives a nestv of two gears 12 secured to the snapping rollers 54 for turning these rollers in the This nest of gears 12 also'dri'ves a sprocket Wheel I9 secured to Aone roller 54, around which is trained a chain 'i4 for driving a shaft 15, which at its front end turns driving parts 16 to operate or drive the outer gathering chain i8. Said shaft 15 also is coupled to drive an upwardly and rearwardlyextending shaft 11, which is connected at its upper end to drive a setof bevel gears in a housing 18 f at the upper end of the elevator 59. A shaft 19,

passing through the upper end of said elevator housing, drives the elevator conveyer 60. This shaft i9 also drives a bevel gear set in a housing Bil on the opposite side of the elevator housing 59, as shown in Figure 7, said gears in the housing serving to driveI a forwardly and downwardly extending shaltyl, whichis connected, through a universal coupler 82, to drive gearingin a box t3 at the side of the housing 53 for operating a shaft 84 and turning parts located in the hous- The gearing in the housing 83 serves to drive a shaft t5, and,

by an appropriate gearing ina box 99. a sprocket a the tractor.

wheel 81 is driven to drive the inside gathering chain 58. -Of course. it will be understood that, when the picker unit has been operatively coupled to the tractor, the legs 6| will be raised off the ground, so that they will be clear of the ground when the picker is pushed ahead .by the tractor.

The rod 31 is coupled to an appropriate forward point 31' on the picker unit, as indicated in Figures l and 3, so that, when the operator on the tractor swings the lever 34 rearwardly, the picker u nit will be raised pivotally about the axis of the Outrigger support 29 for adjusting the 'gathering points 56 and 51 in relation to the ground to facilitate such adjustment, and, because of the weight of the picker unit, a counterbalancing spring mechanism is provided, which will-now be described.

One of the plates 50, shown in Figure 9, has securely fastened thereto a downwardly and rearwardly extending arm 88, the lower end of which includes a pin 89 for the pivotal connection thereto of a rod 90. Connected to the rod 90 is a coil spring 9| extending rearwardly and adapted to be coupled to the husklng unit, later to be described. This counterbalancing mechanism is also shown in Figure 6, where it will be seen that at the rear, is a part of the husking unit not yet described and that the arm 88 may bedetach-- ably, rigidly coupled to one of the plates 50 in the assembly of the complete organization to make the counterbalance spring effective in relation to the axis of the Outrigger 29 properly to spring the weight of the picking mechanism disposed in advance of said Outrigger support 29 and about which said picker mechanism is pivotally mounted. The husking unit will next be described, and in that connection attention is called to Figure 6, where the unit per se is shown detached from This unit comprises a suitable support 92 which has secured thereto suitable clips 93 in which are adjustably carried by suitable clamping means 93 upright legs or stands 94. In the embodiment shown, each side of the support 92 carries two legs 94, so that in all four legs or feet are provided to support the husker unit, which is mounted on the support or frame 92. The frame 92 is carried by a U-shaped support 95, which extends rearwardly and laterally.

The supporting frame 92 carries a suitable upright housing 96 at each side of whichis bolted the flange of an angle bar 91, which bar is vertically disposed, and on each side of the housing is connected by a diagonal brace bar 98 rigidly to the support 95. upright angle bar 91 at each side of the housing 96 constitutes a quick attachable means similar to that heretofore identified by the numeral 46 and for that reason the present bars will be characterized by the number 46'. Each attaching portion 46' includes at its lower end a key-hole slot 48 and at its upper end is formed with a clawportion 41'. By means of p1ates'39 connected to the inner flanges 38 on the axle housing 26 and bolts 4|, the husking unit of Figure 6 is readily attached to the tractor axle, as shown in Figure 14. The rear end of the support 95 hassecured thereto an upright A-frame 99 spanningthe sides of the housing 96 for a purpose later to appear, said A-frame including a horizontal brace |00, which, along with the side of the housing 96, carries a bracket The opposite side of the housing, as shown in Figure 6, carries a brace |02 for supporting a. platform |03,

It will be observedlthat each on which the stub-shaft se heretofore described 1scarried. The top of the housing 96- carries a hopper |04 open at its front side, as indicated at |05, the front portion of the hopper being suitably supported by avertical brace |06 carried by a tie brace |01 running between the housing 96 and the platform |03. carried by a bracket |08, which is suitably braced as shownwhich brace structure includes a cross tie |09 extending to the bracket |0| on the 0ppo.

site side of the housing 96.

The chain 61 heretofore described passes around an idler sprocket |0 carried on the front wall of the husker housing 96, as shown in Figure 6, the chain 61 serving to drive a sprocket wheel III, which serves to drive a longitudinal shaft l I2 that passes into a gear box'l I3, which houses a bevel gear set, not shown, to drive a. transverse shaft ||4, whereby, in any usual manner, a set of longitudinally disposed husking rollers |5, lo-

cated in the upper part of the housing 96, may i be driven to remove the husks from ears delivered on to rollers ||5. The shaft |I4, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, extends to the stubbleward side of the housing 96 to drive a sprocket wheel ||6,

thereby driving a sprocket chain ||1. This chain I1, as generally indicated in Figure 3, drives other interior mechanism of the husker not necessary herein to be described, among such mechanism being an ear forwarding conveyer I8, which cooperates in the usual manner with the husking rolls ||5 to press the ears yieldably down onto the rollers, so that they will eiciently perform y their duty of removing the husks from the ears.

The rear end of the counterbalancing spring 9|, as indicated in Figure 1, is appropriately secured to the gathering side of the frame structure associated with the housing 96, as indicated in Figure 1.

A longitudinal draw frame element |20 is rigidly secured underneath the housing 96, as indicated in Figure 3, which at its rear end is disposed in back of the housing 95.and carries a horizontal, transverse hinge pin |2|. As shown also in Figure 13, a U-shaped bracket |22 is connected to the pin |2| for pivotal movement, and the bight of the U-shaped bracket |22 carries a longitudinal horizontal hinge |23, to which is connected another U-shaped bracket |24, said bracket |24 in turn carrying a vertical hinge pin |25 for connecting a pair ofv spaced bars |26 thereto, said bars |26 having rigidly attached thereto a tongue |21 for a wagon, not shown, that is adapted to be pulled behind the husker unit when the latter is attached to the tractor. It can b e seen that this hitch. structure, as shown in Figures 3 and 13, permits the tongue |21 to hinge in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis |2|; to hinge in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis |25;

and, to rock on its horizontal axis about the horizontal axis of the bolt |23,-three separate movements 'thus being provided for said tongue |21, so that the wagon will properly trail exibly behind the husker over uneven ground traversed angularly disposed side wall section |3|. Thus, on one side we have the single plata |29 including y its extension |29' and on the opposite side we The platform |03 is partly have the two wall sections |30 and |3| in symmetrical relationship, whereby an open rear wall section is formed and in which a housing |32 for an elevator |33 may be secured to arrange said elevator |32 in a direction extending longitudinally rearwardly, as shown in Figure 3. This hopper construction is open at its bottom, so that ears delivered thereto will fall down onto the lower end of the elevator, which is disposed below the hopper |23. The lower end of the elevator husker housing is carried on the frame struc-ture 82. The elevator |33 is driven in a manner well understood in this art, so that husked ears delivered into the hopper |23 will be removed from the husker by the elevator |33 anddischarged upwardly and rearwardly from themachine to ward point on the picker to/inake adjustments of the picker up and down about the axis23 possibleto accommodate the picker to ground condi- -tute any obstruction-to the passage of the picker be dropped into the wagon, which is being pulled behind the machine by the tongue |21.

In some conditions of operation it may be desired to locate the elevator housing |32 inv a di-v rection transverse of the line of draft to discharge the husked ears into a wagon pulled along the stubbleward side of the tractor mounted picker and husker, and for that reason the hopper structure |23 of this invention is so designed that it may be reconstructed from parts contained within itself to make it possible to locate-said elevator in such transverse direction. This position of the elevator is shown in Figures 10 and 11 as a modification, and in that connection it can be seen that the plate |23' is detached and remounted at the rear side of the hopper, as

shown in Figure 10, and the plate |3| is located on the opposite side of the hopper to close off one corner thereof, whereas the plate is unfastened and then secured to the opposite side of the hopper from that shown in Figure 12, so that a side opening in the hopper is provided at the stubbleward side thereof. The base plate mounting of the elevator, which is shown at |36, can then be bodily detached from the frame support 92 and be turned with the elevator housing |32 through an arc of 90 degrees. The elevator can then be positioned in said Side opening formed in the stubbleward side of the hopper to locate the elevator housing |32 in a transverse, stubblewardly extending position. The parts will then all be securely bolted in place again to complete a rigid elevator structure,

In making use of the improved structure, the

tractor body will be first arranged to receive the transverse Outrigger 29, as described in connection with Figures 2 and 8. In other words. one portion of the shaft 23 will bey secured at-two points bythe U-bolts 30 and 32 tothe side frames 20 ofthe tractor body, and the opposite end of said shaft 29 will be rigidly land detachably coupled by means'of the quick attachable bars 46 to -the. plates 33 secured to an axle housing ange 38. The Outrigger 29 includes the adjusting lever 33 and the link 31. f

The gathering unit will be arrangedas shown in Figure 7 as a detached unit standing on the ground and made stable by the two legs 6|, which will be in the position shown in Figure 7. The clamp structure 32 will be in open position, so that the tractor can be driven into or alongside the picker unit so that the shaft 23 can be moved directly into the bearing 5 l, whereupon the clamp structure 52 is bolted together andthe diagonal brace 33 is coupled in place, all in a manner heretofore described, and by this simple procedure the picking unit is coupled to the tractor at the side thereof to be pushed thereby. The link 31, of course, will be appropriately connected to a for- .on its legs 34.

unit over the ground. i

The husker unit will be standing on the ground as a detached structure, as shown in Figure 6, The husker structure, -of course, including the hopper |04; and, the hopper |23, including the elevator |32, is tied by the brace |35 to the A-frame 99. The tractor can now be backed into the husker unit, so that the plates 1 33 on opposite anges 33 of the rear axle housing will be brought to a position against the two attaching plates 91`included in the husker unit. whereupon the'upper and lower bolts on the respective plates 39 can be coupled to the claw portions 41' and the key-hole slots 43' of said..

attaching plates 91. The counterbalance spring structure 30, which is attached to the husker frame structure, will next be coupled through the arm 38 to the plates 53 of the picker frame, as shown in Figure .9, thus establishing the counterbalancing connection for springing the weight of the picking unit. The drive chain 81, of course, will ha've to be wrapped around the sprocket wheel 66 on the power take-off shaft of the tractor to establish driving connections from said power take-off shaft tothe various operative elements included in both the vpicker and the husker in a manner that has already been adequately'v shown and described. When the parts are so related, the elevator 53 of the picker enters the hopper |34' on the husker 33 through' the front open wall |35 thereof, so that obviously the elevator 53 will feed ears gathered by the picking mechanism to the husker for treatment therein. The legs 94 are, of course, brought to an elevated position oil the ground before the outfit is moved over the ground to pick corn.

This completes the detailed description of the organizationl and it can readily be seen that, as the tractor is driven along the row of corn, the gathering rolls 53 pinch or snap the ears from the standing stalks, said ears being delivered into ythe elevator 59 and thence into .the hopper |33 on lthe husker s6, which in turn includes mechanism of conventional form to remove the husks, which are discharged onto the ground in any` desired way, .while the ears are carried into the hopper |28 from whence they fall onto the lower end of the discharge elevator conveyer |33 to be elevated into a .wagon drawn either behind the tractor mounted outilt or to one sldethereof ina manner heretofore described and made possible by the character of the hopper structure |23. Y.

It will be appreciated now that `the objects for the invention heretofore recited have been attained.

It is the intention to cover all changes and I modications oi the ement herein disclosed for the sake oi illustration which do not thereof in advance of a housing. the combination with the support of a picker unit rockably and detachably connected to the support alongside the tractor body, a husker unit detachably connected to the housings and supported rigidly from the rear end of the tractor, means for de' liverlng picker corn rearwardly from the picker 1 to the husker. a lever on the tractor including connections to adjust the picker, and a counterbalance for the picker connected between the picker and husker.

2. In a tractor mounted picker and husker, the tractor having a longitudinal body and transverse rear axle housings extending laterally from opposite sides thereof, anges on the housings, and an Outrigger support rigidly carfied by the body at one side thereof 1n advance of a housing, the combination with the support of a picker unit having av frame rockably and detachably connected to the support alongside the tractor body. a husker unitY detachably connected to anges on the housings and rigidly supported from the rear end of the tractor, means for delivering picked corn rearwardly from the picker to the husker, a lever on the tractor including connections to adjust the support rigidly carried `by the body at one side picker, and a counterbalancing spring for the picker connected between the picker and husker.

3. In a tractor mounted picker and husker, 5 the tractor having a longitudinal body and transverse rear axle housings extending laterally from opposite sides thereof, ilanges on the housings, and an Outrigger support rigidly carried by the body at one side thereof in advance of 1o a housing, the combination with the support of a picker unit having a frame rockably and detachably connected to the support alongside the tractor body, means detachably connecting the support to one of theanges on a housing, a

15 husker unit detachably connected to flanges on the housings and supported from the rear end of the tractor, means for delivering picked corn rearwardly from the pickerto the husker, a lever on the tractor including connections to adjust the picker, an varm connected to the picker frame, said arm extending rearwardly and downwardly to the rear of said support, and a counterbalance spring for the picker connected between the 'arm on the picker frame and the husker.

BENJAMIN M. HYMAN. 

